France's Prime Minister François Bayrou on Tuesday, July 15, proposed cutting two public holidays as part of a 2026 budget proposal to slash public spending while also increasing defense expenses.
Bayrou suggested making people work on Easter Monday and on May 8, a day that commemorates Victory in Europe at the end of World War II, though adding he was open to other options.
France is under pressure to bring its public deficit under three percent of GDP as required under EU rules. The centrist premier said the government aimed to bring the deficit down from 5.8% last year to below 4.6% next year and to under 3% by 2029. To achieve this, other measures would include a freeze on expenses, except for debt servicing and the defence sector.
President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday said defense spending should rise by €3.5 billion in 2026, and then by a further €3 billion in 2027. France has a defense budget of €50.5 billion for 2025.